About PAW 2026
PAW 2026 is a high-level event showcasing the responsible development of energy and mining projects, solutions and technologies to support thriving healthy communities for a sustainable future, which is in line with the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The PAW 2026 Congress on “Critical connections: The path to responsible minerals, sustainable energy and thriving communities” will bring together thought leaders of government, academia, industry, civil society, Indigenous groups, investors, innovators and community organizations. Participants will discuss the latest developments of critical minerals, examine emerging technologies to build secure value-added supply chains with Indigenous rights, environmental justice and community prosperity. The Congress will also explore policies and partnership models to advance and streamline clean technologies, energy transition, emissions and reductions in Canada and the world. The Congress will also reflect on Canada’s place in the world in sustainable and responsible discovery for development in the critical minerals and energy sector.
The Congress will inform, educate and support an environment of interactive dialogue and discussion to stimulate further partnership and collaboration and will include fireside chats, student poster presentations, and a mix of keynote and panel presentations focused on themes related to critical minerals, sustainable energy and health.
Focus areas for PAW 2026 include:
- Economic growth
- Energy transition
- National security
- Sustainable and responsible development
- Innovation and processing
- Supply chains
- Partnership
- Health
- Thriving communities
Registration
Registration Rates:
Early Bird Registration:
- General: $250.00 + Fees (April 30, 2026 to August 31, 2026)
- Student: $65.00 + Fees (April 30, 2026 to September 6, 2026)
Regular Registration:
- General: $350.00 + Fees (September 1, 2026 to October 9, 2026)
- Student: $120.00 + Fees (September 7, 2026 to October 9, 2026)
How to Access Student Rates:
Students are eligible for discounted registration rates. To access your student discount code, please email international.office@usask.ca with the following information: Name, NSID (if USask), Student Number, College and Program, and Supervisor (if graduate student). If you are not a USask student, please provide a contact at your institution who can verify your enrollment.
Optional Tours:
A day of optional, free-of-charge tours (pre-registration required) is scheduled for October 20, 2026. Attendees will have the opportunity to pre-register for a tour(s) during the Congress registration checkout process. For more information on tour options please see the PAW 2026 Pre-Congress Tours.
For registration questions please contact international.office@usask.ca.
Our Offical Registration Platform:
PAW 2026 Registration Refund Policy:
- 100% Refund: A full refund, minus administrative fees, will be provided for cancellations made up to 4 weeks prior to registration closing on October 9, 2026.
- 50% Refund: A 50% refund, minus administrative fees, will be provided for cancellations made between 4 weeks and 2 weeks prior to registration closing on October 9, 2026.
- No Refunds: No refunds will be issued for cancellations made within 2 weeks of registration closing on October 9, 2026.
- Administrative Fees: Administrative fees are non-refundable and cover costs associated with processing and handling the registration and cancellation.
- Cancellation Deadline: Cancellations must be made in writing and received within the applicable time frames to qualify for a refund. Please contact international.office@usask.ca to arrange a ticket refund.
- Refund Process: Refunds will be processed within 7 business days from the date of cancellation approval.
- Ticket Transfer: Tickets are always transferable to a different name. Please contact international.office@usask.ca to arrange a ticket transfer.
Hotel Accomodations:
PAW 2026 Congress Hotel rates have been arranged at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites East - University and Staybridge Suites East - University for attendees.
Stay up to date by joining the PAW mailing list
Subscribe for the latest details about PAW 2026, including early-bird registration dates, speaker information and more!
Congress Program
ACU Information Session | Pre-Congress Workshop
- Date: Monday, October 19, 2026
- Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Format: In-person, USask main campus
- Location: The workshop agenda and location will be shared with registrants closer to the date.
- Cost: no additional cost to attend
- To Register: Pre-Congress ACU Information Session Registration Form
- Registration deadline: October 9, 2026
Join the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) for an interactive pre-congress session exploring the benefits of ACU membership, international funding opportunities, and the organization's policy and advocacy work. Attendees will learn about ACU funding programs, strategies for developing successful applications, how they curate programs and secure funding through Horizon Europe, and how the ACU engages with governments and High Commissioners to advance international higher education and research collaboration.
 |
Pre-PAW Congress Presenter: Fariba Soetan, Head of Policy and Research, Association of Commonwealth Universities (London, UK). Fariba Soetan is an experienced higher education policy expert with over 15 years’ experience working across HE research policy, science, innovation, sustainable development, and inclusion. As Head of Policy and Research at the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) based in London, UK she leads strategic initiatives that influence global higher education policy. Fariba convenes the ACU’s Higher Education Taskforce, a group of 20 vice-chancellors from across the Commonwealth, tackling key challenges such as equitable access, research ecosystems, HE funding, employability, digital transformation, and sustainability. Their work supports governments in delivering the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Fariba has held influential roles at the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), Springer Nature, and the National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB), managing multi-million-pound portfolios and advising senior stakeholders. |
| Start Time | End Time | Activity | Location |
| 9:00am | 5:00pm |
Various Optional Tours (sign up when registering for PAW 2026) |
Varies |
| 6:00pm | 8:00pm |
Speaker Reception |
Invitation only |
All times are CST. Program subject to change.
| Start Time | End Time | Activity | Location |
| 8:00am | 9:00am | Registration; Light Breakfast and Networking | Garry Room, Marquis Hall |
| 9:00am | 10:00am | Welcome | Garry Room, Marquis Hall |
| 10:00am | 10:45am |
Opening Keynote Dr. Grant Isaac
President and Chief Operating Officer
|
Garry Room, Marquis Hall |
| 10:45am | 11:00am | Break | |
| 11:00am | 12:30pm |
Concurrent Sessions Session 1: Global Minerals and Energy: Strategic Partnerships, Security, and the Future of Supply Session 2: Energy and Technology: New Pressures and Innovations |
TBD |
| 12:30pm | 1:30pm | Lunch | Garry Room, Marquis Hall |
| 1:00pm | 2:45pm |
Student/PDF Poster Presentations |
Upper Place Riel |
| 2:30pm | 3:00pm | Break | |
| 3:00pm | 4:30pm | Panel: Indigenous Workforce Development: Governance and Economic Participation | Garry Room, Marquis Hall |
| 4:30pm | 6:00pm | Break | |
| 6:00pm | 8:00pm |
Congress Reception |
University Club |
All times are CST. Program subject to change.
| Start Time | End Time | Activity | Location |
| 7:45am | 8:40am | Registration; Light Breakfast and Networking | Garry Room, Marquis Hall |
| 8:40am | 9:00am | Welcome; Top 3 Student/PDF Poster Presentation | Garry Room, Marquis Hall |
| 9:00am | 10:30am |
Panel: Critical Resources, Critical Choices: Energy Security in Transition |
Garry Room, Marquis Hall |
| 10:30am | 11:00am | Break | |
| 11:00am | 12:30pm | Concurrent Sessions
Session1: Biomining and Bioremediation: Biological Solutions for Sustainable Resource Development Session 2: Supporting Thriving Communities: working together to steward resources for a sustainable future |
TBD |
| 12:30pm | 1:30pm | Lunch | Garry Room, Marquis Hall |
| 1:30pm | 3:00pm |
Panel: Health and Sustainable Development: Lessons from the Well-being Economy |
Garry Room, Marquis Hal |
| 3:00pm | 3:45pm |
Closing Keynote Dr. Jaspinder Komal |
Garry Room, Marquis Hall |
| 3:45pm | 4:00pm | Congress Closing Remarks | Garry Room, Marquis Hall |
| 4:00pm | 5:00pm | Break | |
| 5:00pm | 6:30pm |
Ralph Goodale
|
Garry Room, Marquis Hall |
All times are CST. Program subject to change.
Plan to join us on in the morning on Friday October 23, 2026 for a Post-PAW Congress workshop designed to educate, connect and engage our community following the excitment and discovery of the PAW Congress. More details, including how to register, coming over the summer!
Registration will be open the USask Campus community as well as PAW Attendees. If you have any questions on this Pre-PAW Congress events, please email international.office@usask.ca.
All times are CST. Program subject to change.
Keynote Speakers
| Opening Keynote |
BIOGRAPHY:
Dr. Grant Isaac
President and Chief Operating Officer
Cameco Corporation
With 16 years of experience in executive roles at Cameco, Grant's responsibilities have spanned almost the entire scope of the business. Grant joined Cameco as senior vice-president, corporate services in July 2009, was appointed to senior vice-president and CFO in July 2011, followed by the appointment to executive vice-president and CFO in February 2023.
In September 2025, Grant was appointed to president and chief operating officer.
As president and chief operating officer, Grant will provide executive oversight for all Cameco operations, exploration and corporate development. Grant also continues to provide executive oversight for Cameco's commercial and financial strategy including global marketing, corporate strategy and effectiveness and sustainability and stakeholder relations.
Prior to joining Cameco, he was a professor at the Edwards School of Business, University of Saskatchewan beginning in 2000 and was appointed as the Dean of the Edwards School of Business in 2006.
Grant received a BA (economics) and an MA (economics) from the University of Saskatchewan and a PhD from the London School of Economics.
|
 |
| Closing Keynote |
BIOGRAPHY:
Dr. Jaspinder Komal
Assistant Deputy Minister, Defence Research and Development CanadaDr. Jaspinder Komal became the Assistant Deputy Minister, Defence Research and Development Canada in 2022. He is responsible for ensuring national leadership in defence science and technology through the development and delivery of new solutions and advice to National Defence, the Canadian Armed Forces and various partners.
Before his appointment, Dr. Komal served as the Vice President of Science Branch at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) from 2018-2022. Dr. Komal graduated from the Faculté de médecine vétérinaire at the Université de Montréal in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, with a degree in veterinary medicine and a post-graduate degree in veterinary microbiology. Over the course of his career, Dr. Komal has gained extensive and diversified experience as a senior scientific leader, having advanced key government of Canada (GoC) priorities and building collaborative partnerships within government, academia and industry. |
 |
| NEW! Public Lecture |
BIOGRAPHY:
Ralph Goodale
Canada’s former High Commissioner in the United Kingdom and previously a senior Minister in the Government of Canada
Raised on a family farm near Wilcox, Ralph Goodale is a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan in both Arts and Law. He has practical experience in agriculture, business, law and broadcasting, as well as more than 40 years in federal and provincial politics. He served in the Cabinets of three different Prime Ministers with portfolio responsibilities for agriculture, natural resources, public works, finance and public safety. In 2021, Mr. Goodale joined the diplomatic corps as Canadian High Commissioner in the United Kingdom, leading Canada’s oldest and second-largest foreign mission during a period of extraordinary geo-political turbulence. In the spring of 2026, he became a member of the Prime Minister’s Advisory Committee on Canada-US economic relations. To learn more and to Register click here |
 |
Session Details
Panel | Indigenous Workforce Development: Governance and Economic Participation
Date: Wednesday October 21, 3:00pm – 4:30pm
Session Description: This panel will examine Indigenous workforce development through the interconnected lenses of governance, jurisdiction and economic participation. It will explore how these three distinct groups support meaningful participation in resource development and related economic opportunities. The discussion will explore how workforce issues are shaped by broader questions of rights, self-determination and community benefit.
Meet Our Speakers
|
|
Moderator Dawn Pratt is a member of the Muscowpetung Anihšināpēk Nation. With varied experience in science education and an indomitable spirit, she has forged a professional consultancy company, askenootow STEM, as an Indigenous STEM Educational expert for the past 20 years (STEM = science, technology, engineering, and math). Dawn earned a Master of Science degree with a specialization in the design of organic adsorbent materials directed toward the removal of arsenic from contaminated water (University of Saskatchewan, 2011). |
|
Chief of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band and the president of Kitsaki Management Limited Partnership, Canada |
Speaker Details coming soon |
|
CEO The Peter Ballantyne Group of Companies, Canada |
Speaker Details coming soon |
|
Acting Chief Executive Officer Métis Nation-Saskatchewan, Canada |
Speaker Details coming soon |
|
Mayor Pinehouse Lake, Canada |
Speaker Details coming soon |
Dawn Pratt
Chief Tammy Cook-SearsonPanel | Critical Resources, Critical Choices: Energy Security in Transition
Date: Thursday October 22, 9:00am – 10:30am
Session Description: As the world transitions to cleaner sources of energy, including renewables and nuclear, countries around the globe are seeking stable partners to strengthen their energy security. Canada and Saskatchewan are emerging as leaders in energy and mineral resources that are essential to this transition. This panel addresses both the challenges and enormous opportunities that Saskatchewan can play in the global energy system of the future.
Meet Our Speakers
|
Board Member, University of Saskatchewan Board of Governors Former President and Chief Executive Officer, SaskPower, Canada |
Moderator Mike Marsh is the former President & CEO of SaskPower and spent 30 years of a 42-year working career with the corporation before retiring at the end of 2021. He joined the Executive Leadership Team beginning in 2008 as Vice-President of Transmission & Distribution, became Chief Operations Officer in 2012, and then President & CEO in 2015. During his time at SaskPower, he helped lead the company through an extensive period of growth including the build out of generation, distribution and transmission infrastructure over that period. The company and province also moved forward with an expanded sustainability program including renewables, gas generation and the integrated carbon capture facility. Mike has served on several boards including the Canadian Electricity Association, STARS Air Ambulance, and is currently on the University of Saskatchewan Board of Governors. He lives in Saskatoon with his wife, Maureen, and family. |
|
Senior Fellow and Director of Natural Resources, Energy, and Environment The Macdonald-Laurier Institute, Canada |
Speaker Heather Exner-Pirot is a Senior Fellow and Director of Natural Resources, Energy, and Environment at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. She serves as a Special Advisor to the Business Council of Canada, and Managing Editor of the Arctic Yearbook. She is an internationally recognized scholar and policy expert whose work focuses on natural resource development, energy security, critical minerals, Arctic governance, Indigenous economic participation, and Canadian competitiveness.
|
|
Director, Nuclear Business & Governance SaskPower, Canada |
Speaker Scott Hunter is new to the nuclear world, having started his role with SaskPower as the Director, Nuclear Business & Governance, in March 2026. He is a seasoned public administrator with extensive experience in trade and export development, and international relations. His current work focuses on nuclear business and governance for the development of nuclear power in Saskatchewan, which includes non-technical areas such as planning, legal, external engagement, indigenous relations, governance, finance, and human resources. Scott holds a PhD in Public Affairs from the University of Colorado, Denver. |
|
Science Counsellor, Head of Science Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Ottawa, Canada |
Speaker Torsten Geissler works as the Science Counsellor at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany to Canada in Ottawa ON. With a doctoral degree in Economics (labor market analysis), he has over two decades of work experience at his home ministry, the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, where he held multiple roles in different policy areas (education, strategy, innovation); he also built up an internal audit unit in the ministry, before he moved to the department of life sciences during the pandemic. Being head of science at the German Embassy, he focusses on cooperation in research priorities like quantum and AI, fusion energy, ocean and arctic research, Space research and life sciences, as well as the cross-sectional issues research security, open science, Horizon Europe and science diplomacy in general. |
|
Director, International Office Trade and Export Development (TED), Canada |
Speaker Chris Riviere is a Saskatchewan public-sector leader specializing in international trade, investment attraction, and economic engagement. Based in Regina, he serves as Director, International Engagement with the Government of Saskatchewan's Ministry of Trade and Export Development, with responsibility for Saskatchewan's engagement in key international markets including India, China and Vietnam. His work focuses on strengthening Saskatchewan's international relationships, advancing trade and investment opportunities, and connecting Saskatchewan businesses and industries with global partners. His professional experience includes extensive engagement with business, government and international stakeholders, with a particular focus on Saskatchewan's competitive strengths in areas such as agri-food, energy, critical minerals, investment and international commerce. |
Mike Marsh
Dr. Heather Exner-Pirot
Dr. Scott Hunter 
Torsten Geissler 
Chris RivierePanel | Health and Sustainable Development: Lessons from the Well-being Economy
Date: Thursday October 22, 1:30pm – 3:00pm
Session Description: In resource rich countries, developing sustainable methods for optimal natural resource use is a challenge. To do so, a balance between short, medium and long-term community and regional impacts must be considered. This panel will explore how to incorporate a well-being economy approach to help guide sustainable development in Canada and beyond. Using findings from global case studies, the panel will explore ways to advance this challenge at local, regional, national and international levels.
Meet Our Speakers
|
Dr. Cory Neudorf Professor Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Canada |
Moderator Dr. Neudorf is a Professor in the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan. He is the former Senior Medical Health Officer of the Saskatchewan Health Authority and former Chief Medical Health Officer with the Saskatoon Health Region. He received his medical degree from the University of Saskatchewan, a Master of Health Science degree (Community Health and Epidemiology) from University of Toronto, and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada with Certification in the specialty of Public Health & Preventive Medicine. He has held various leadership roles in Public Health at the national level in Canada, including:
In 2020, he was awarded the R.D. Defries medal by the Canadian Public Health Association for outstanding contributions in the broad field of public health. He is currently serving on the editorial board of the Canadian Journal of Public Health and the Strategic Analytic Advisory Committee of the Canadian Institutes for Health Information. He is co-founder and President of the Urban Public Health Network of Canada and is a liaison member with the Regions for Health Network (WHO Europe). His research interests include: intervention research to improve health equity; public health systems and services research; health status indicators and surveys; and integrating population health into health system performance improvement and strategic planning. He is the co-lead of the Health and Wellness signature area for the University of Saskatchewan. |
|
Dr. Dina von Heimburg Health and Sustainable Development: Lessons from the Well-being Economy The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Norway)
|
Speaker Dina von Heimburg, PhD, is Associate Professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), where she heads the WHO Collaborating Centre on Well-being and Social Sustainability and co-leads NTNU WellFare, the Nordic Research Center for Wellbeing and Social Sustainability. Her work asks how societies can be organised so that wellbeing, dignity and fairness are produced for all, spanning relational welfare, co-creation of public value, social participation and the wellbeing economy. She sits on the New Economics Expert Group of WHO/Europe's Universal Wellbeing Economy Initiative and contributed to WHO country deep dives on the wellbeing economy in Finland, Iceland, Scotland and Wales, and to policy briefs on institutionalising social participation in health system governance. She led the Norwegian team on the Marmot review of health inequalities, the first to recommend a wellbeing economy for health equity, and brings over a decade of experience in public health planning and policy.
|
|
Dr. Gaynor Watson-Creed Associate Dean, Serving and Engaging Society & Interim Division Head, Division of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Community Health and Epidemiology Dalhousie University, Canada |
Speaker Dr. Gaynor Watson-Creed is the Associate Dean of Serving and Engaging Society for Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Medicine, Interim Division Head for the Division of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, and Chair of the Board of Engage Nova Scotia. She is a public health specialist physician with over 20 years experience, having served as the former Medical Officer of Health for the Halifax area and Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health for Nova Scotia. She served as a member of the One Nova Scotia Coalition economic strategy table in Nova Scotia and in 2023 served on the federal Task Force on Women in the Economy. She also served on the Province of Nova Scotia’s Environmental Racism Panel, which was created by the provincial government in 2023. Dr. Watson-Creed has an MD from Dalhousie University, an MSc from the University of Guelph, a BSc from the University of Prince Edward Island, and honorary doctorates from Acadia University and the University of Prince Edward Island. She sits as chair or member of several national population health councils and boards, including being appointed to the Advisory Board for the Institute of Population and Public Health of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. She is a passionate advocate for high-quality public health services and anti-oppressive health care in Canada. |
Concurrent Session | Global Minerals and Energy: Strategic Partnerships, Security, and the Future of Supply
Date: Wednesday October 21, 11:00am – 12:30pm
Session Description: International partnerships are becoming central to supply chain security and sustainable development as the global demand for critical minerals and energy accelerates. This session will examine how countries and established energy markets are navigating resource development, geopolitical pressures and investment dynamics. Panelists will share perspectives on collaborations, policies and innovations that are shaping the future of minerals and energy systems.
Meet Our Speakers
|
Director, International Office International Office, Trade and Export Development (TED), Canada |
Moderator Chris Riviere is a Saskatchewan public-sector leader specializing in international trade, investment attraction, and economic engagement. Based in Regina, he serves as Director, International Engagement with the Government of Saskatchewan's Ministry of Trade and Export Development, with responsibility for Saskatchewan's engagement in key international markets including India, China and Vietnam. His work focuses on strengthening Saskatchewan's international relationships, advancing trade and investment opportunities, and connecting Saskatchewan businesses and industries with global partners. His professional experience includes extensive engagement with business, government and international stakeholders, with a particular focus on Saskatchewan's competitive strengths in areas such as agri-food, energy, critical minerals, investment and international commerce. |
|
President & CEO Saskatchewan Research Council, Canada |
Speaker Mike Crabtree is President and CEO of the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC), Canada's second-largest research and technology organization, where he leads efforts to advance innovation, including the development of North America’s first fully integrated rare earth element (REE) processing facility. With more than 30 years of international experience across oil and gas, renewable energy and critical minerals, Mike has held senior executive roles with Schlumberger and Carbon Engineering. He also founded his own technology company, growing it from startup through to its successful sale in 2011. Mike serves as a director and board chair for several private companies and works with private equity firms and investors to evaluate opportunities and support company growth. His expertise spans operations, R&D, technology commercialization and strategic leadership. His contributions have been recognized through numerous honours, including the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal and the Premier’s Award for Excellence in Public Service. He holds a master’s degree in petroleum engineering and a degree in chemistry. |
|
President & CEO Saskatchewan Trade & Export Partnership, Canada |
Speaker Chris Lane is the President & CEO of Saskatchewan Trade & Export Partnership (STEP), a member-driven, non-profit organization dedicated to advancing Saskatchewan’s export economy. STEP works in partnership with provincial exporters and emerging exporters to help Saskatchewan businesses access global markets, diversify customer bases, and grow international sales. Through market intelligence, trade missions, and business development programming, STEP connects Saskatchewan suppliers with opportunities around the world.
|
|
Scientist G and Head, Hydro, Bio & Electrometallurgy Department CSIR Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, India |
Speaker Dr. Kali Sanjay, Chief Scientist at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research’s Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, Bhubaneswar, India, leads the Hydro, Bio & Electrometallurgy Department, Business Development, and the Centre of Excellence on Critical Minerals under the National Critical Mineral Mission of the Ministry of Mines. With over three decades of experience, he specialises in developing technologies for recovering critical metals from ores, wastes and secondary resources. He has authored 60+ research publications, holds 7 patents, and contributed to 100 research and technology projects, resulting in 17 technologies and processes. He serves on Indian national bodies, including committees on Critical and Strategic Minerals and Nickel and Cobalt, and chairs a Bureau of Indian Standards committee on aluminium-industry feedstocks. His international engagements span Australia, Canada, South Korea and Europe. He is a Professor at the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, advancing sustainable resource security. |
Mike Crabtree 
Chris Lane
Dr. Kali Sanjay Concurrent Session | Energy and Technology: New Pressures and Innovations
Date: Wednesday October 21, 11:00am – 12:30pm
Session Description: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a powerful tool that can advance many areas of our daily lives. However, AI’s immense energy needs and environmental impacts, such as heat emissions, are affecting communities around the world that are hosts to AI data centres. How will we meet the energy needs and solve the environmental impacts required to develop this powerful tool and make it available to everyone? What should change: our computers or the grid itself?
Meet Our Speakers
|
Dr. Shelley Kirychuk Director, Canadian Centre for Rural and Agricultural Health Professor, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Canada |
Moderator Dr. Kirychuk is Director of the Canadian Centre for Rural and Agricultural Health (CCRAH) and professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. CCRAH supports farmers and rural people to live and work healthy and safe by developing and offering programs, resources, and services for rural communities, that are informed by the research evidence of the Centre. The Centre has an almost 40-year history of working with Saskatchewan’s rural municipalities, with 207 of Saskatchewan’s rural municipalities participating in our programming for farmers and rural schools. The Centre actively supports farmer and rural health and safety across Canada, including partnering in the establishment of the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association, the Canadian Agricultural Injury Surveillance program, the Canadian Coalition for Agricultural Safety and Health, and the Canadian Rural Health Research Society. |
|
Executive Director Global Institute of Energy, Minerals and Society (GIEMS), Canada |
Speaker Tom started his career in the field of heavy industrial manufacturing for power generation equipment in 1989 at a then brand-new company, Hitachi Canadian Industries Ltd. Over the next 26 years he worked in many roles to support the needs of a growing business and in 2006 was appointed the first Canadian President and CEO of the Canadian operations. Tom started his consulting business, TPK Management Consulting Inc., in 2020 to continue supporting organizations in their development journeys. He is currently serving as the founding Executive Director of the Global Institute for Energy, Minerals and Society (GIEMS) and is a Director of Max Power Mining Corp. and Rivercity Innovations Inc. Tom is also Chair of the USask College of Engineering Dean’s Advisory Board. He has a BSc and MSc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan. |
|
John Desjarlais Executive Director - AISES Chief Impact Officer - kihew Consulting, Canada |
Speaker John Desjarlais, P.Eng., MBA, PsGov, is the CIO at Kihew Consulting and Research, an Indigenous owned and managed consulting firm focused on creating sustainable and generational impact for all clients including Indigenous organizations and communities. He is Nehinaw (Cree)–Métis from Kaministikominahikoskak (Cumberland House), Saskatchewan. |
|
Dr. Steven Rayan Director, Centre for Quantum Topology and Its Applications (quanTA) and Professor, Mathematics and Statistics College of Arts and Science, University of Saskatchewan, Canada |
Speaker Dr. Steven Rayan is a quantum scientist based at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) since 2016. He specializes in quantum computing, quantum artificial intelligence, and quantum matter. He earned his doctorate from the University of Oxford in 2011 research fellowship at the University of Toronto . In addition to his role as full professor of mathematics at USask, Dr. Rayan leads the Quantum Innovation Signature Area of Research and is the founding director of the Centre for Quantum Topology and Its Applications (quanTA). His work in quantum materials has been highlighted in Scientific American twice in the past three years, and one of his recent papers in the area was the first runner-up for the prestigious Cozzarelli Prize of the US National Academy of Sciences. In November 2025, Dr. Rayan was inducted into the College of the Royal Society of Canada for his work at the interface of mathematics and quantum science. |
Tom Kishchuk
Concurrent Session | Biomining and Bioremediation: Biological Solutions for Sustainable Resource Development
Date: Thursday October 22, 11:00am – 12:30pm
Session Description: Biomining and bioremediation are enduring practical approaches that are part of the solution to reduce the environmental footprint of resource extraction while improving recovery of critical minerals. This session will examine how biological processes are being applied in mining operations and site remediation, with examples from industry and research. Panelists will discuss scalability, regulatory considerations, contributions to responsible resource development and the role of innovation in advancing more sustainable mining practices.
Meet Our Speakers
|
Dr. Karsten Liber Executive Director & Professor School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Canada |
Moderator Karsten Liber is the Executive Director of the School of Environment and Sustainability (SENS) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask). Professor Liber was also the inaugural executive director of SENS, leading its development from an approved concept to full implementation (2009-2012). He received the title of Distinguished Professor at the USask in 2014, was given a national award for Outstanding Contributions to Canadian Ecotoxicology in 2018, and was made a Fellow of the Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry in 2019. Dr. Liber obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Guelph in Ontario in 1990. Dr. Liber is a widely recognized aquatic ecotoxicologist who is actively engaged in research related to metal accumulation in aquatic life and food crops, and in the environmental impacts of the mining and metals industry, specifically with respect to metal bioavailability, speciation and toxicity in aquatic ecosystems.
|
|
Dr. Wonjae Chang Professor of Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Canada |
Speaker Dr. Wonjae Chang, PhD (McGill), P.Eng., is a Professor of Environmental Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan. He is a researcher, educator, and innovator dedicated to advancing technologies for environmental remediation, reclamation, and redevelopment. He has collaborated with 15 industry partners across Canada’s energy, potash mining, and agricultural sectors on the development and application of innovative remediation technologies for contaminated soil, groundwater, and agricultural water resources. Dr. Chang has also contributed to the development of waste-to-value processes using potash mining byproducts (tailings) and indigenous microorganisms. In addition, he has developed innovative engineered minerals for the cost-effective passive treatment of brine-impacted soil and water resources. Currently, he is developing a hybrid technology that synergistically integrates salinity remediation and bioremediation in collaboration with Canada’s energy industry.
|
|
Dr. Katherine Stewart Associate Professor of Soil Science, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan, Canada |
Speaker Dr. Katherine Stewart is an Associate Professor in the Department of Soil Science at the University of Saskatchewan. Her research and teaching focusses on remediation and restoration of arctic, alpine and boreal terrestrial environments. Her research group works with belowground soil systems, early successional soil surface communities and native vascular plants allowing for an integrated approach to examining both the impact and remediation of contaminants in the environment. As part of the restorative process, she works with Industry partners and Indigenous communities to find new ways to build relationships that promote collaborative environmental decision making and community-based restoration.
|
Concurrent Session | Supporting Thriving Communities: Working Together to Steward Resources for a Sustainable Future
Date: Thursday October 22, 11:00am – 12:30pm
Session Description: As the global demand for critical minerals accelerates the clean energy transition, communities sit at the center of opportunity. But with any opportunity comes risk. This session examines how sustainable energy pathways can—and must—support human health, social equity and long-term community wellbeing and environmental protection, ensuring that the transition creates truly thriving communities.
Meet Our Speakers
|
Dr. Vicki Squires Professor, Education Administration College of Education, University of Saskatchewan, Canada |
Moderator Dr. Vicki Squires recently completed her term as the Associate Dean, Research, Graduate Support and International Initiatives and is a Professor in the Department of Educational Administration in the College of Education at the University of Saskatchewan. Her areas of research are post-secondary education and student well-being; supporting mental health and wellbeing requires collaboration among units and a systems approach. Dr. Squires has been the lead of multiple grants exploring the implementation of the Okanagan Charter on campuses in Canada and globally. She has published and presented on the work of health promoting universities and the Okanagan Charter; she is also the lead editor on a co-edited book that includes international co-authored chapters written by researchers involved in health promotion efforts on their campuses. |
|
Director & Assistant Professor, JSGS Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives, University of Saskatchewan, Canada |
Speaker Marc-André Pigeon is the director of the Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives and an assistant professor in the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy (JSGS). His research centers around the study of co-operatives, governance, and money and banking. Before joining JSGS, Dr. Pigeon worked as vice president, advocacy (interim) and assistant vice president of financial sector policy at the Canadian Credit Union Association, as an advisor at the Department of Finance, a lead analyst for two Parliamentary committees (Senate Banking, Trade and Commerce; House of Commons Finance), an economist at the Levy Economics Institute, and a business reporter for Bloomberg Business News.
|
|
Associate Professor, Canada Research Chair (CRC) Tier 2 in Social and Cultural Decision Making in Engineering Design Ron and Jane Graham School of Professional Development College of Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Canada |
Speaker
Details coming soon
|
|
Professor School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Canada |
Speaker
Details coming soon
|
Dr. Marc-André Pigeon Student and Postdoctoral Fellow Poster Competition
The Student and Postdoctoral Fellow Poster Competition provides an excellent opportunity for students and postdoctoral fellows to showcase their research, receive valuable feedback from peers and experts, and connect with fellow researchers and professionals from across disciplines.
Why Participate?
The Poster Competition offers a unique opportunity to:
- Showcase research to a broad audience.
- Build presentation and communication skills.
- Network with students, faculty, researchers, and professionals
For questions, please contact international.office@usask.ca.
We still have a limited number of spaces available and are reopening applications for a short period. If you missed the original deadline, this is your final opportunity to join the competition and share your ideas.
Apply now before the remaining spots are filled.
Students and postdoctoral fellows are eligible to submit an abstract if they meet the following criteria:
- Are actively enrolled at University of Saskatchewan (USask) as a student, including undergraduate, graduate, exchange, visiting research student (VRS), and visiting student; or
- All students and postdoctoral fellows who are currently registered, hired or appointed at USask, whether as full or part-time students, members of a research team, or holding in-scope or external appointments, or
- A student registered for PAW 2026.
In addition, applicants must:
- Demonstrate how their research connects to the theme of the 2026 Congress or relevant SDG(s).
- Be actively enrolled in an undergraduate, master's, or doctoral program or be a current postdoctoral fellow, if applying in a postdoctoral capacity.
- Normally be the first author of the work being presented. Group research projects are welcome; however, only one individual may submit the abstract and serve as the official presenter.
- Submit only one abstract for consideration.
- Are conducting research under the supervision of a faculty member.
- Present work that reflects current or ongoing research, data collection, or analysis. Previously published or previously presented work may be subject to review and restrictions.
- If they have successfully defended their thesis or dissertation but have not yet officially graduated, they remain eligible to participate. Individuals who have formally graduated prior to the Congress are not considered active students and therefore are not eligible under the student category.
- Entries must be authorized for public website display and congress voting.
Fees:
- Participation in the competition is free of charge.
- The PAW Congress will pay for printing of posters*
*Posters must be printed by the Congress organizing committee and will be posted in the venue prior to the start of the Poster Competition.
Congress Registration:
- Students who are registered for the Congress are encouraged to submit an application to participate.
- Students who are not registered for the Congress may also submit an abstract and participate in the competition if the abstract is accepted. However, these participants will have access only to the Poster Competition and will not be eligible to attend other Congress activities and events.
Submission Guidelines:
- Abstract Length: Maximum 300 words.
- Required Structure: Background, Methods, Results, and Conclusions/Discussion.
- Submission Deadline: September 16, 2026 (4:00pm) EXTENDED FOR A SHORT PERIOD
Authors of accepted abstracts will receive a targeted invitation with instructions for the Call for Posters process.
Presentation Format: All accepted abstracts will be presented as posters during the dedicated Poster Competition session. Details of the poster size will be provided to selected candidates.
We still have a limited number of spaces available and are reopening applications for a short period. If you missed the original deadline, this is your final opportunity to join the competition and share your ideas.
Apply now before the remaining spots are filled.
Submit Your Abstract: click on the button below
The Poster Competition will be evaluated through congress voting, giving Congress participants the opportunity to recognize the research that they find most engaging, impactful, and effectively communicated.
Throughout the Poster Competition session, attendees will be invited to view the posters, interact with presenters, and cast their votes for their favorite submissions. Voting will consider factors such as:
- Clarity and quality of the poster presentation
- Significance and relevance of the research
- Effectiveness of communication to a broad audience
- Engagement with attendees during the Poster Competitions
At the conclusion of the voting period, the posters receiving the highest number of votes win the prize awards. Award recipients will be announced via online and at the Congress Day 2 opening event, following the conclusion of the voting at the Poster Competition.
In addition, there will be an opportunity for a community choice winner, which will be open to congress participants and campus community who visit the poster competition. The community choice winner will not present but will be notified as the winner and receive a small prize.
The top three posters receiving the highest number of congress votes will be invited to present during the Congress program.
Top 3 winner 3-minute research showcase to PAW Congress attendees: Thursday October 22 at 8:30am
- Abstract Submission Deadline: September 16, 2026 (4:00pm)
- Notification of Acceptance: September 23, 2026
- Call for Poster from accepted candidates period: September 24 – October 7
- Deadline to submit poster details: October 7
- Poster Competition Event Date: Wednesday October 21 from 1:00pm – 2:45pm
- Top three 3-minute research showcase to PAW Congress attendees: Thursday October 22 at 8:30am
- First place: $200.00 CAD
- Second place: $100.00 CAD
- Third place: $50.00 CAD
- Community Choice Award: $50.00 CAD
Public Lecture
The Turmoil of our Times: Reflections on Canadian resources and values
Ralph Goodale, Canada’s former High Commissioner in the United Kingdom and previously a senior Minister in the Government of Canada
Former MP, federal Cabinet Minister and diplomat, Ralph Goodale, reflects on the global attention being paid to Canadian resources, Canadian leadership and Canadian values - critical assets in growing demand in a divided and dangerous world.
Free public lecture, Registration is required.
FAQs
PAW 2026 will take place October 20-22, 2026 on the University of Saskatchewan (USask) main campus located in Saskatoon, SK. An evening reception will take place at a location within the city. Please see Congress Program for more details once avaliable.
All conference registration details will be outlined under the 'Registration' tab.
Registration will open Spring 2026.
Once open, reigstration may be completed by following the link under the 'Registration' tab.
Additional tickets for the evening reception may be available depending on final numbers. If you are interested in additional tickets please email international.office@usask.ca.
A virtual option will not be available for PAW 2026.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Student and Postdoctoral Fellow Poster Competition Prize Sponsor
Sponsorship
Thank you to our PAW 2025 Sponsors!
Sponsor the PAW 2026 International Congress in Saskatoon, October 20-22, 2026! Align your brand with this year's theme, connect with global experts, and drive meaningful change. Join us in making a world of difference.
Please contact international.office@usask.ca if you are interested in becoming an official sponsor of PAW 2026.
Congress Resources
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a call for action by all countries — poor, rich and middle-income — to promote prosperity while protecting the planet. They recognize that ending poverty must go hand-in-hand with strategies that build economic growth and address a range of social needs including education, health, social protection, and job opportunities, while tackling climate change and environmental protection.
Our University Plan 2025 commits us to be “The University the World Needs”. This means harnessing our talents and resources to respond to contemporary challenges and opportunities. The Critical Path to Sustainability strategy lays out an ambitious set of five goals and 17 actions that responds to these challenges and opportunities. We commit to achieving them by 2030, aligning with the Agenda Sustainable Development Goals.